Naval Brass 464 – UNS C46400
UNS C46400 – Naval Brass is copper alloyed with zinc and tin to provide improved strength, corrosion resistance and machinability. Naval brass is classified as Copper-Zinc-Tin Alloys (Tin Brasses). It’s nominally composed of 60% copper, 39.2% zinc and 0.8% tin. The perfect ratio is around 59% copper, 40% zinc, 1% tin, and trace amounts of lead. Due to its composition, this type of brass is classified under a brass subfamily known as “Alpha Beta” or sometimes “Duplex Brasses”, which are stronger and harder than other brass groups, particularly when it comes to dealing with saltwater. This makes them a perfect material for sea vessels.
Specs: ASTM-B-171, QQ-B-639, ASTM-B-21, ASTM B124, QQ-B-637, AMS 4611, ASME SB-171
Key Words: CDA 464, CZ133, CZ113, ISO CuZn39Sn1, CEN CW719R, UNS C46700
As you know that brass is a kind of metal that is malleable, strong and durable. This metal is an alloy between the elements of copper and zinc, but sometimes, a small amount of tin and other metals such as lead are added to improve its properties.
The ratio of copper to tin varies depending on the metal’s intended purpose. The composition ranges from 55 to 90 percent for copper and 10 to 45 percent for zinc.
Malleability and ductility is two critical properties you can get from brass alloys. The malleability of brass depends on the amount of zinc used. When the alloy contains more than 45% of zinc they are known as White Brass and are no longer workable either in hot or cold.
As the name implies, naval brass has extensive marine application and can be found where strength and corrosion resistance are valued. Typical industrial applications for 464 brass include tubesheets, baffles, valve stems, fasteners and mold plates. C464 Naval Brass is also widely used for indoor and outdoor decorative applications. Naval brass is considered a Lead Free product because the maximum lead content is 1/5th of 1%.
Alloy 464 is recommended for marine hardware and pump shafts as well as nuts, bolts, rivets, and valve stems. It is highly known for reisisting corrosion in seawater even at higher than normal temperatures. This alloy is excellent for hot working.
As for brass used in marine applications, the secret to its success is the addition of tin. Even if tin only accounts for 1% of the entire composition it makes brass for naval use even more corrosion resistant, an essential characteristic when the alloy is meant to be exposed to harsh saltwater conditions. Another important reason why tin is added to the mix is to increase the metal’s resistance against dezincification, which allows it to last even longer.
The addition of Tin also gives Naval Brass a high resistance to dezincification. Dezincification is a type of dealloying in which one of the constitutes of an alloy is removed by corrosion. Dezincification was first recognized as a serious problem in brass tubes used for ship condensers around 1920. At the time this problem was referred to as “Condenseritis”. Since then various alloys have been formulated to stop this process, one of which being Naval Brass.
The addition of trace amounts of lead may not seem important, but this actually impacts and helps with the metal’s machinability. With just the right mix and amount of metals, brass becomes even sturdier, stronger, and more workable than it originally is.
Naval Brass is used extensively in marine hardware applications, but the uses don’t stop there. Its higher tensile strength and resistance to wear make it applicable in bushings and wear strip as well as fastener and valve stem applications.
Material Notes: Fair to excellent corrosion resistance. Excellent hot workability and hot forgeability. Fabricated by blanking, drawing, bending, heading and upsetting, hot forging, pressing.
The following are data on the physical properties of Brass Naval :
|
Physical Properties |
Metric |
English |
Comments |
|
Density |
8.41 g/cc |
0.304 lb/in³ |
at 20°C (68°F) |
|
Mechanical Properties |
|||
|
Tensile Strength, Ultimate |
379 – 607 MPa |
55000 – 88000 psi |
|
|
Tensile Strength, Yield |
172 – 455 MPa |
24900 – 66000 psi |
Depending on temper |
|
Elongation at Break |
50 % |
50 % |
in 431.8 mm. |
|
Modulus of Elasticity |
100 GPa |
14500 ksi |
|
|
Poisson’s Ratio |
0.28 |
0.28 |
Calculated |
|
Machinability |
30 % |
30 % |
UNS C36000 (free-cutting brass) = 100% |
|
Shear Modulus |
39 GPa |
5660 ksi |
|
|
Thermal Properties |
|||
|
CTE, linear 250°C |
21.2 µm/m-°C |
11.8 µin/in-°F |
from 20-300°C (68-570°F) |
|
Thermal Conductivity |
116 W/m-K |
805 BTU-in/hr-ft²-°F |
at 20°C (68°F) |
|
Melting Point |
885 – 900 °C |
1630 – 1650 °F |
|
|
Solidus |
885 °C |
1630 °F |
|
|
Liquidus |
900 °C |
1650 °F |
|
C46400 Naval Brass Specifications
|
End Product |
Specification |
|
Bar |
AMS 4611, 4612, ASTM B21, FEDERAL QQ-B-639, SAE J463, J461 |
|
Bar, Forging |
ASTM B124 |
|
Bolts |
ASTM F468 |
|
Forgings, Die |
ASTM B283 |
|
Nuts |
ASTM F467 |
|
Plate |
FEDERAL QQ-B-639 |
|
Plate, Clad |
ASTM B432 |
|
Plate, Condenser Tube |
ASME SB171, ASTM B171 |
|
Rod |
AMS 4611, 4612, ASTM B21, SAE J463, J461 |
|
Rod, Forging |
ASTM B124 |
|
Screws |
ASTM F468 |
|
Shapes |
ASTM B21 |
|
Shapes, Forging |
ASTM B124 |
|
Sheet |
FEDERAL QQ-B-639 |
|
Strip |
FEDERAL QQ-B-639, SAE J463, J461 |
|
Studs |
ASTM F468 |
|
Wire, Metallizing |
MILITARY MIL-W-6712 |
Chemical Composition
| Component | Wt. % |
| Cu | 59 – 62 |
| Fe | Max 0.1 |
| Pb | Max 0.2 |
| Sn | 0.5 – 1 |
| Zn | 39.25 |
|
UNS No |
Cu (Cupper) |
Fe (Iron) |
Pb (lead) |
Sn (Tin) |
Zn (Zinc) |
|
C46400 |
59.0 – 62.0 |
0.10 max |
0.2 max |
0.50-1.0 |
remainder |
NAVAL BRASS / C46400 TYPICAL USES
Some of the typical areas that C46400 is used in, is as follows:
- Air Pressure Conveyer Systems
- Sound Proofing Equipment
- Springs
- Chain
- Bead Chain
- Tubing for Instruments
- Tubing for Machines
- Heat Exchangers
- Pump Cylinders
- Wire Screens
- Pumps
- Liners
- Power Cylinders
Builders Hardware: Lock Pins
Electrical
Precision shipboard equipment
Fasteners
Rivets, Bolts, Nuts
Industrial
Welding rod, condenser plates, structural uses, valve stems, balls, heat exchanger tube, aircraft, turn buckle barrels, bearing, dies, golf ball production, pressure vessels, bearings, bushings, hub cones.
Marine
Propeller shafts, marine hardware, decorative fittings, shafting, turn buckles.
Ordnance
Missile components
Other
Baffle plates and flanges
The following is an example of a mill’s certificate of naval brass :
sample-Mill-Certificate-naval-brassSourches :
- https://alloys.copper.org/alloy/C46400 You can download naval brass specifications in pdf format here: https://alloys.copper.org/alloypdf.php
- https://www.rotaxmetals.net
- https://www.avivametals.com/products/c46400-naval-brass-lead-free
- https://www.atlasbronze.com/C46400-Naval-Brass-s/1883.htm
- http://www.marmetal.com/brass/c46400-naval-brass/
- https://southerncopper.com/products/nonferrous-metals/c46400-brass/
- https://www.diversifiedmetals.com/product/naval-brass-c46400/
- https://elginfasteners.com/resources/materials/material-specifications/naval-brass-464/
- Brass, Britannica.com
- What is Naval Brass?, NationalBronze.com
